The new Defence Secretary has vowed the UK’s continuing support for Ukraine in a surprise visit to Kyiv.

Grant Shapps highlighted the British help supplied after talks with President Volodymr Zelensky.

He said: “It was an honour to meet President Zelensky to assure him that the UK will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

Mr Zelensky pleaded with Mr Shapps for help bolstering air defences and again later with Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

This was Mr Shapps first visit to Kyiv as defence minister after taking over from Ben Wallace.

He was pictured shaking hands and chatting warmly with the Ukrainian president in a video posted on social media. Mr Zelensky said: “I am profoundly grateful to the UK for all the financial, humanitarian, and military support, including crucial long-range capabilities.

“We discussed further defence cooperation and steps to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence.”

Last month Mr Shapps travelled to a war-torn country in his previous job as net zero secretary.